Arise Ghana has commended the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, for what it describes as a renewed effort to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector, while calling for stronger accountability, financing and institutionalisation of the reforms.
Speaking at a press conference themed “Agriculture Policy Reforms: What Ghanaians Must Know,” the group said its assessment was part of its broader commitment to independently monitor the performance of key sectors of the Ghanaian economy under the John Mahama administration.
Arise Ghana said agriculture remains central to Ghana’s food security, employment, industrial development and cost of living, arguing that the success of agricultural policies directly affects food prices, farmers’ incomes, local industries and the country’s dependence on imports.
The group identified six major policy areas being pursued by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture: the Feed Ghana Programme; seed sovereignty and fertilizer reforms; irrigation expansion and water management; mechanisation and farmer service centres; post-harvest and market systems reforms; and livestock and special crops revival.
Feed Ghana Programme
Arise Ghana described the Feed Ghana Programme as one of the most significant interventions under the government’s current agricultural policy direction.
According to the group, the programme adopts a more integrated approach to agriculture by bringing together crop production, livestock, poultry, irrigation, mechanisation, extension services, farmer organisations, agro-processing and market access.
The group said the programme had so far supported farmers through the provision of agricultural inputs and technology, including 40,000 bags of inorganic fertilizer, nearly 8,000 cartons of organic fertilizer and agricultural drones.
It also highlighted the training and commissioning of 506 Feed Ghana Brigadiers, who are expected to provide technical assistance and coordinate agricultural activities at the district level.
Arise Ghana further cited the distribution of 500,000 Kuroiler birds to smallholder farmers, particularly women, single mothers and persons with disabilities, as part of efforts to improve household nutrition and livelihoods.
The organisation said the integrated nature of the Feed Ghana Programme was important because Ghana’s food-security challenges could not be addressed through the distribution of fertiliser and seeds alone.
Seed and Fertilizer Reforms
On seed sovereignty and fertilizer reforms, Arise Ghana said government was investing in seed-testing equipment, soil laboratories and nationwide soil sampling to improve the application of fertilizers based on the specific needs of different soils.
The group noted the rehabilitation of the national soil laboratory in Kumasi as a step towards improving soil testing and moving away from what it described as “blanket fertilizer application.”
It also pointed to the Ejapa rice seed initiative, which is expected to produce more than 10,000 tonnes of seed by 2027.
According to the group, these interventions could reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported seeds and fertilizers while improving productivity and reducing unnecessary input costs for farmers.
Irrigation Expansion
Arise Ghana also welcomed efforts to reduce Ghana’s reliance on rain-fed agriculture through expanded irrigation infrastructure.
The organisation said 10 new dams were being constructed, eight others rehabilitated and 250 solar-powered boreholes installed.
It further cited the refurbishment of irrigation schemes including Vea, Weta, Tanoso, Ashaiman, Kpong and Aveyime, as well as the commencement of two irrigation schemes in Afram Plains-Kunadu expected to irrigate about 900 hectares.
The group said expanded irrigation could help reduce the effects of climate variability while ensuring a more consistent supply of agricultural produce for consumers and agro-processing industries.
Mechanisation and Farmer Service Centres
The group described mechanisation and the establishment of Farmer Service Centres as another major component of the government’s agricultural agenda.
According to Arise Ghana, more than 4,000 units of agricultural machinery, including tractors and combine harvesters, have been procured.
It said the government plans to establish 50 Farmer Service Centres in the initial phase, with the first centre having been cut at Takoratwene.
The group also highlighted plans to construct 1,000 kilometres of farm roads, arguing that improved road infrastructure would enhance access to markets and help reduce post-harvest losses.
Post-Harvest Losses and Market Access
Arise Ghana said reforms in the post-harvest and agricultural marketing system were also critical to ensuring that increased production translated into higher incomes for farmers.
The group said the government was strengthening the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to purchase surplus food during peak production periods and release it during periods of scarcity.
It also cited the local fabrication of 300 maize and soybean threshers by 2,231 youth artisans, describing the initiative as an opportunity to simultaneously reduce post-harvest losses and create employment.
The organisation further welcomed government’s focus on increasing local production of tomatoes, onions and pepper, as well as the rice import quota policy under which importers are expected to partner with local producers to obtain import permits.
Livestock and Special Crops
Arise Ghana also highlighted the Nkoko Nketenkete Programme, which focuses on backyard poultry production among women and young people.
It also mentioned the government’s “Farm to Table” framework for large and medium-scale poultry farmers and the YƐREDUA Vegetable Development Project, which involves greenhouse farming, irrigation-supported open-field production and vegetable nurseries for home gardening.
The organisation said these initiatives could contribute to increased domestic poultry and vegetable production while creating jobs and improving food security.
Arise Ghana Commends Minister but Calls for More Accountability
Assessing the leadership of Hon. Eric Opoku, Arise Ghana said the Minister had assumed responsibility for the sector at a time when Ghana’s agricultural industry required significant structural transformation.
The group described his leadership as “visionary” and said the deliberate effort to translate policy commitments into interventions targeting farmers, consumers and the wider economy was commendable.
However, it cautioned that agricultural reforms should not depend solely on individual political administrations.
“Ghana has witnessed several agricultural initiatives under successive governments. The recurring challenge has been continuity, evaluation and sustainability,” the organisation said.
Arise Ghana therefore called for agricultural reforms to be backed by legislation, institutional systems, reliable financing and measurable performance indicators where necessary.
Ten Recommendations to Government
The organisation presented ten recommendations to the Minister for Food and Agriculture.
It called for the publication of measurable annual targets for major agricultural programmes and the establishment of a transparent public monitoring system through which citizens can track implementation.
It also urged government to strengthen farmer databases to prevent ghost beneficiaries, expand irrigation infrastructure and put clear maintenance arrangements in place.
Other recommendations include improving access to affordable agricultural finance, strengthening extension services, improving agricultural marketing systems, investing in storage and agro-processing, giving women and young people a stronger role in agricultural programmes, and institutionalising successful agricultural reforms.
Call for Public Interest in Agriculture
Arise Ghana urged Ghanaians to take a greater interest in agricultural policies, stressing that agriculture affects far more than farmers.
According to the organisation, agricultural performance has implications for food prices, employment, industrial development, imports, exports and the general cost of living.
The group encouraged citizens to demand evidence, ask questions and monitor public agricultural programmes while urging stakeholders to provide constructive criticism rather than politicising every intervention.
“Agricultural Transformation Must Be a National Project”
In its concluding remarks, Arise Ghana said Ghana possessed the land, human resources and entrepreneurial capacity required to become a major food-producing and agro-processing economy in Africa.
The organisation, however, said achieving that ambition would require consistency, investment, accountability and a long-term national vision.
While describing Hon. Eric Opoku’s current policy direction as being “on track” based on its assessment, Arise Ghana stressed that the ultimate test would be the impact of the reforms on farms, markets and households.
“If farmers earn better incomes, if food becomes more affordable, if young people find decent jobs in agriculture, if Ghana reduces unnecessary food imports and if agricultural production becomes more resilient and competitive, then the reforms will have delivered meaningful transformation,” the group said.
Arise Ghana concluded with a call for government, Parliament, farmer organisations, private-sector actors, development partners, academia, the media and civil society to work together to build a resilient agricultural sector.
Its message was clear: “Let us Feed Ghana, but let us also make farming profitable, agriculture competitive and the food system accountable.”
The organisation maintained that Ghana’s agricultural transformation should ultimately be treated as a national project rather than a partisan project.
